Friday, August 22, 2008

Gunfighter Ballads

Three of my favorite childhood cowboy albums: Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs by Marty Robbins which was released on the Columbia Records label in September 1959. The song El Paso was no. 1 on both the country and pop music charts. Contains the classics Big Iron, Cool Water, They’re Hanging me Tonight, and El Paso. Another great Robbins cowboy song on this album, Running Gun, can be viewed HERE. Both Frankie Lane and Robbins recorded Cool Water, written by Canadian Bob Nolan.

Hell Bent for Leather by Frankie Laine from 1961. Jazz vocalist Frankie Laine knocked the kids out with Rawhide, Mule Train, The Hanging Tree and the awesome Cry of the Wild Goose. A version of Rawhide with archival footage of midget cowboys by the Dead Kennedys is HERE.

High Noon by Tex Ritter. Not sure of the date on this one but highlights are Blood on the Saddle and Red Brahma Bull. A wonderfully funny movie clip HERE has old Tex bringing his grizzled sidekick to tears singing Blood on the Saddle.

Profile

Cartoonist, illustrator, storyteller, born in Nelson, B.C. in May 1950, has contributed to Chronicle, Weirdom, and Visions fanzines. John illustrated ‘Ronald and the Dragon’ by Lawrie Peters in 1975. Email: adcock34@gmail.com